Bailey’s Perspective:

I could talk for hours about our love story and how God proved to be so faithful during each and every step while being present in every small detail of our relationship. To save some time, I will just leave the spark notes version here.

Years ago, right before my best friend was about to get married, she told me that her fiancé had a friend and she just knew we would make the perfect match. Confused as to why she had not mentioned him sooner, I then realized timing was not in our favor, but the seed was planted. We ended up briefly meeting each other at the famous Columbia rodeo just one week after her wedding, but again, timing was all wrong. I sort of let go of the thought and that was the one and only time we had seen each other and briefly communicated.

Flash forward to one year later, Presley lets me know that Jake Bennett is ON THE MARKET. Timing is everything and still was not quite right. This is where Presley starts to WORK. From August - February, she is constantly posting me all over her social media accounts in an attempt to get Jake to notice. I’ll spare you the many details that went into the next few months, but each time Jake’s name was brought up in conversation between Presley and me (which was a lot!), Jesus was also involved in the conversation. That stuck with me.

Presley goes on vacation with my family every year at Christmas and I remember us talking about Jake a lot during this trip. If you were friends with Presley on any social media account and wondered why she was posting about me so much, hopefully this makes more sense! I remember getting home from that vacation and I was spending some time talking to Jesus. I had been the single friend for a LONG time at this point. I was not too bothered by it, as I knew that settling was not an option and I was confident that the Lord would be faithful, as I had been praying for my future husband for as long as I could remember. I remember praying one night and I had the strong feeling to start a prayer journal. I have never kept up with a prayer journal or written down my prayers before, but I started one anyways. Of course, my same prayer for a husband made one of the top spots, and Jake was always in the back of my mind. I went back and forth on if that made me crazy - to think of a guy that I had little to no interaction with, while praying this prayer. To get even crazier, a few weeks into writing down my prayers, I ended up writing Jake's name down in my prayer journal! I remember writing it and instantly feeling crazy!! But, I knew that the Lord was at work. I had been keeping up with him through Presley, and I knew that he was going through a tough time at this point. So during this time, I just prayed for him as an individual and I prayed for healing. I later began to pray that if it was in the Lord's will for our paths to cross again, that He would make it happen because I was painfully curious about the potential of knowing him.

Flash forward again to February and I get a facebook message (we hate our generation too). I see Jake Bennett's name pop up and I am SHOOK! Jake asked me out on a coffee date. We both had king cake latte's over the sweetest conversation and now we are getting married!

Jake’s Perspective:

"She's cute," I thought when I saw the friend request on Facebook. I'll add her back. I didn't message her because I wasn't in the right headspace after coming out of a tough season, but I was praying for God to bring someone into my life during this time. I started to accept the odds of living a life of singleness because I didn't think anyone checked the boxes of what I needed. A few months passed, and I saw a video on my feed of this beautiful woman with a voice to match. She's standing on a church stage, singing praises to God. I thought to myself, "Who is THAT?" I watched the entire video, almost in a trance. The heavenly voice and the angel it came from had a hold of me.

This mysterious woman had already checked the number one box for me: She has a genuine relationship with Jesus. I think everyone can sit in a pew and take a family picture on Easter Sunday, but to sing of His love in front of others points to a deeper relationship with God. A connection like this with God is what I was looking for, not to mention how stunning she is. This combination created butterflies in my stomach and questions in my mind. Who was she?

I saw TeLina Book posted the video, but Presley Vanderslice shared it. I'm close friends with Presley! Was this her friend? I had to know, so I began my investigation. With some digging, I could conclude she wasn't in a relationship, and we were already Facebook friends! She's the pretty one who added me months ago! I texted Presley and Ben (her husband and childhood best friend) before a Super Bowl party I was throwing for my youth group, "We need to talk tonight." I knew it would be late due to the party, but these questions couldn't wait another day. The game ends, and the teenagers eventually find their way home. I drive back to my house and dial-up Presley.

She answered on the first ring, which was unusual. I began to beat around the bush for a few minutes because I was nervous. I didn't know what I was getting into, and the thought of putting myself out there again was nerve-racking! But I felt strongly led, so I got it together and asked. So, can you tell me about your friend, Bailey Book? I remember a lot of emotion on the other end of the line. Presley gave out a loud "Omg, Jake!!" And I could hear Ben in the background saying, "There's no way." I was perplexed at the cheerfulness and disbelief I was getting in return. "Guys, what? What's going on?"

"I cannot believe this," Presley replied. "You don't know this, but I've been trying to set y'all up for a while now! I even told your parents about Bailey at church Sunday." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Presley has been talking me up to Bailey these last few months without me knowing. She's also been posting pictures and videos of her to get me to notice her. She even spoke to my parents about her! I was on a roller coaster of emotions. What does this mean? It feels like this is too good to be true! I remember trying to stay cool and calm but was so excited. I remember floating to bed that night, thinking of what could be.

The next day, I sent her a message simply asking to get coffee. Call me old-fashioned, but I didn't want to try to get to know her through text. I wanted to meet face to face. I told her how the video of her singing wowed me and that I'd like to get coffee with her. Turns out, that's a little intimidating from a stranger. Between the Monday of my message and our plans on Saturday, I could tell that Bailey was starting to get nervous. A day or so before our date, she began laying the groundwork to have an excuse, but I just repeated that I'd see her Saturday at 10 am at CC's Coffee.

We both took a chance on this coffee date, which paid off. She went from nervously apprehensive about the date to sending a message to our mutual friend Presley afterward: "I think I want to marry Jake!" Now, in less than four months, she will. I'm thankful to God for Bailey, and I can't wait to marry my best friend.